Toy piano



I Ap ,1 R. J. LQHR 2,279,144

. I TOY PIANO Original Filed Aug. 15, l939 INVENTOR' RAYMdNo J. LOHR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1942 TOY PIANO Raymond J.'Lchr, Rantoul, Ill., assignor to Louis Marx & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application August 15, 1939, Serial No. 290,208. Divided and this application June 19, 1941, Serial N0. 398,766

8 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, and particularly to toy pianos.

Toy pianos are already known in which keys are used to strike a Xylophone having metallic sounding plates, perhaps more properly termed a metallophone. The primary object of my invention is to generally improve toy pianos of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide the piano with a book-top preferably containing well known childrens songs in simplified notation, the notes and keys preferably having corresponding numbers to facilitate playing of the piano by an untrained child. The book-top is a simulated piano top which may preferably be made to conform in outline to the configuration of the case of the piano, and which is pivoted so that it may be raised to a position which facilitates reading the music therein. The piano may also be provided with a pivotally mounted support which is adapted when in raised position to hold the book-top in its position of use, the arrangement being such that the support and the book-top may be folded down fiat on top of the piano when not in use.

There are other objects and features of the present invention which, however, are set forth and claimed in my co-pending parent application Serial Number 290,208, filed August 15, 1939, of which the present application is a division.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the toy piano elements and'their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification, and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the piano with the book-top in closed position;

Fig 2 is a perspective view with the in open position;

Fig. 3 is a section taken in elevation through the piano in the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section across the front of the piano taken in the plan of the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section over the top of one of the folding piano legs, and is taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the construction of one of the keys with attached hammer; and

Fig. 7 is explanatory of a detail of the metallophone construction.

book-top Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the piano, in the specific example here illustrated, simulates a grand or baby grand piano, but may be of any desired shape. It comprises a case C supported on legs L, and having a row of keys K at the front of the piano. The piano is provided with a top T which preferably conforms in outline, to the configuration of the piano case. This top is, in reality, a book of music or songs. The top is pivoted at the front of the case and may be raised and supported in an angular position, such as that illustrated in Fig. 2. The book-top may then be opened to expose any one of the series of pages of music or songs therein.

Considering the construction in greater detail, and referring to the remaining figures of the drawing, the book-top comprises a front cover l2 and a back cover I4 which are preferably made of a single piece of cardboard folded at the middle to form a binding portion l6 at the left-hand edge of the book. A series of pages 18 are bound into the book, these preferably also being folded at the middle, and the .assembly being stitched, stapled, or otherwise secured, in accordance with methods well known to binders. The book cover is free at the right-hand edge. The cover is slit at the binding for a short distance, thus also freeing the back cover at the lower end of the left-hand edge. These free edges are clamped by reversely folded flanges 20 at the ends of a mounting wall 22. The mounting wall extends across the piano from one side to the other, and may be a narrow strip, as shown, if the back cover 14 is stiff enough to be self-sustaining in shape. If the cover of the book is made of light material, the mounting wall 22 is preferably extended upwardly or widened to better support the book, and the left-hand edge of the book may be clamped at the top as well as at the bottom. The lower edge of mounting wall 22 is preferably flanged forwardly, as is indicated at 23, in order to provide a positive stop at the bottom edge of the book. The ends of mounting wall 22 are provided with integrally formed bearing ears 2 which are turned downwardly and pivoted to the side walls of the piano case, as by means of the eyelets 28. It will be evident that with this construction, the mounting wall 22 and with it the book-top T, may be folded down flat on top of the piano case, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be turned upwardly, as is indicated in Fig. 2.

When the book-top is turned upwardly, it is supported in raised position, by means of a suitable top support. In the present case the support is a piece of wire 30, which is extended horizontally rearwardly at 32, then downwardly at 34, and then again bent horizontally at 36. The horizontal portion 32 acts as a pivot, it being received in a hole through a flange 38 on the top wall 42 of the piano case, and also being received in a bearing gear 46 which is struck downwardly from the top wall 42. he portions 34 and 36 of support 30 are not essential, but are preferably added in order to provide detent means to hold the support 30 in upright position. Specifically, the part 36 bears against the bottom wall 44 of the piano case when the support 30 is in upright position. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that bottom wall 44 is indented at 46 and 48 to form a detent which receives the part 36. Inasmuch as the bottom 44 of the piano case is somewhat resilient, it yields downwardly when the part 36 is forced between the indentations 46 and 48. It will be understood that the support 30 may be turned sidewardly to a horizontal position, the part 36 then being moved out. of locking engagement with the bottom of the case and rising until it rests against the top wall 42. At this time the support 30 is in horizontal position and lies below the level of top wall 42, and therefore does not interfere with folding of the book top fiat against the top of the piano case.

The mechanism or action of the piano is extremely simple. The keys K are short and are pivoted near their rear ends. The short rearward extensions 50 (Figs. 3 and 6) of the keys have strips of material 52 secured thereto. The strips are preferably long, slender springs in strip or ribbon form, and each has a hammer head 54 at its rear end. The hammer head 54 is preferably made of a short piece of metal rod, the upper end of which is rounded, and the lower end of which is necked and riveted through a hole in the end of the spring. This provides a slightly weighty, upwardly directed hammer. The metallophone, generally designated M, extends across the piano from one side to the other and is disposed at a level higher than the row of keys K. The metallophone plates are located over the hammers, and it will be evident from inspection of Fig. 3, that on depressing any one of the keys the hammer 54 will be raised to strike the corresponding metallophone plate, as is indicated by the change in position from 52, 54 to 52', 54'. Because of the extremely light, springy nature of the springs 52, there is no interference with proper vibration of the metallophone plate, even if the key is held in depressed position. The keys K are preferably formed of sheet metal. Each key is made of a single piece of sheet metal which is bent downwardly at its edges to form a hollow key which is open at the bottom. The side edges 56 (Fig. 6) are upwardly notched at 58 to fit over a fulcrum strip 60 (Fig. 3) which extends from one side of the piano to the other. The fulcrum strip 60 is preferably L-shaped in section, and is secured in position by tongue and slot connections 62 at its ends which pass through the side walls of the piano case. It may be, and preferably is additionally secured in position by a plurality of tongue and slot connections formed at the bottom of the piano case, one of these being indicated at 64 in Fig. 3.

. The fulcrum strip 66 is preferably notched slightly along its upper edge, as is indicated at 66 in Fig. 4. These notches may be small, but

are desirable to locate the keys against sideward movement and to space the same somewhat apart. The keys are held on the fulcrum strip by a retainer strip 68, best shown in Fig. 3, the lower edge of said strip being disposed directly over the upper edge of fulcrum strip 60. The upper edge of retainer strip 68 may be turned rearwardly at 10 to stiffen the same and to give the piano a more finished appearance. The retainer strip is secured in position by tongue and slot connections 12 at the ends of the piano, the tongues 12 passing through the side walls of the piano case. If desired, the lower edge of retainer strip 68 may be provided with a strip of cushioning material 14, this preferably being a length of small diameter tubular material which is 1ongitudinally slit to be received over the lower edge of the retainer strip. The material may be rubber coated fabric, such as the so-called spaghetti often used for electric insulating purposes.

The metallophone itself is generaly conventional, but the manner in which the metallophone plates are supported deserves mention. The plates are supported on two diverging strips, as is conventional, but these strips are in the present case formed of sheet metal which is bent, to L-shaped configuration with the horizontal part on top, as is best shown at 16 in Fig. 3. The ends of these strips are secured between the side walls of the piano case by appropriate tongue and slot connections 78. A series of T-shaped lugs are struck upwardly from the strips 16, as is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. The T-shaped lugs 80 are received in holes 82 struck through the ends of the metallophone plates, these holes having slots 84 which are dimensioned to receive the T-shaped lugs 80, but which are normally disposed perpendicular to the T-shaped lugs. Thus the metallophone may be initially as-- sembled by twisting the lugs 80, following which the plates are held loosely, as they should be, but are incapable of falling out of position if the piano is turned upside down. The lugs need be twisted at only one end, for at the other end the entire plate may be orientated to receive the lug.

The forward ends of spring 52 are preferably secured to the keys in the following manner. The rear end wall 86 (Fig. 6) of each key is slotted to receive the spring 52, and the top wall is perforated to receive an eyelet 88. The end of the spring is passed through the slot into the hollow interior of the key, and is then eyeletted against the top wall of the key by means of the eyelet 88.

Inasmuch as the piano is made entirely of sheet metal, it is desirable to provide several buffer strips made of fibrous material, such as fabric or felt. One such strip of material is indicated at 90 in Figs. 3 and 4, this strip extending beneath the keys and preventing any metallic sound resulting from the lower edge of the key striking the bottom of the piano. Another such strip is indicated at 92 in Figs. 3 and 4, this strip extending over the bottom of the piano beneath the hammer 54. The strip is held in place by a number of tongues 94 which are struck upwardly from the bottom 44 of the piano. Strip 92 acts as a cushion and sound absorbing medium to prevent any metallic sound when a piano key is released and the hammer falls against the bottom of the piano. Finally, strips 96 are preferably disposed on top of the metallophone supports 16. These may consist merely of heavy strands of wool yarnwhich are run along the tops of the strips.

The legs L, of the piano, are preferably arranged to fold up against the bottom of the piano for more compact packaging, this being a matter of greater convenience during storage and shipment of the toy. Referring to Fig; 3, each leg is formed of a main piece of sheet metal which is longitudinally folded four times to form a hollow leg of square section. The seam, where the edges of the metal meet, is preferably disposed at the inside of the leg, as is indicated at I in Fig. 3. At its lower end, extensions of the metal are turned inwardly, as is indicated at. I02 to partially close the bottom end of the leg. At its upper end the leg is secured to a small top plate I04, the parts beingattached by means of bent tongue and slot connections I06. 'I'op plate I04 is provided with a pair of extensions or tongues I08. (Fig. 5) which are bent or curled to form hinge sleeves. These are received on hinge pins H0 which are formed by provided the bottom 44 of the piano with a pair of closely adjacent collateral slots H2. The material, between slots H2, acts as the hinge pin H0. At its opposite end the top plate I04 is provided with another extension or tongue H4 which is so shaped as to act as a spring detent. It cooperates with a guide lug H6 struck downwardly from the bottom 44 of the piano. evident, on study of the drawing, that with this construction the legs may be folded inwardly from the solid line position to thebroken line position H8.

The legs are preferably so mounted as to be I folded in different directions. For example, the rear leg H8 may fold forwardly, as shown at H8, while the front legs may fold sidewardly inwardly toward one another. In the present case the rear leg H8 folds forwardly and the front leg I folds rearwardly, while the front leg I22 folds sidewardly, as is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. This folding of the legs in different direction is not at all essential, but is somewhat desirable in order to help add stability when the legs are in use. The legs, of course, clear one another when folded and thus minimize the size of the carton needed to box the piano.

The case of the piano may be assembled out of pieces of sheet metal patterned in a number of ways, but I prefer the method of assembly here illustrated. The bottom 44 is a single, large piece of sheet metal, the front edge of which is folded upwardly at I24 (Fig. 3) and rearward- 1y at I26 to form a suitable ledge. at the keyboard. The bottom 44 is provided with extensions at its ends which are folded upwardly to form the straight side walls I28 and I30. These are preferably turned inwardly at the top to form flanges I3I. The curved or contoured rear edge of bottom wall 44 is flanged upwardly for a short distance at I32, as is shown in Fig. 3.

The rear wall of the piano consists of a separate strip of sheet metal I34 which is readily bent to the desired curved outline. It is secured to bottom wall 44 within flange I32 by appropriate bent tongue and slot connections, one of which is indicated at I36. Its ends are secured to the side walls I28 and I by bent tongue and slot connections I38. The case is completed by the top wall 42, the curved periphery of which is downwardly flanged at I40. The top wall is secured to the side wall I34 by bent tongue and slot connections I42. The top wall 42 prefer- It will be i ably terminateswell behind: the front edge of the piano in: order to provide plenty of room for sound egress. In the present case, it terminates at the flange 38 whichzis disposed approximately over the middle of the metallophone. The key retaining strip- 68', which finishes the front of the piano case, has already been described.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the many advantages of'my improved toy piano will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in th structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be: defined in the following claims. In the claims the term metallophone is intended to also include a Xylophone and like equivalents.

I claim:

1. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a book mounted on and forming one of the exposed walls of said case, said book comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, the back cover of said book being pivotally secured on said piano case.

2. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a booktop for said piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a book-top mounting wall pivotally mounted on the piano, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said booktop mounting wall, and a support adapted to support the book-top in a raised position facilitating reading of the music in the book, the arrangement being such that the support and the booktop may be folded down fiat on top of the piano when not in use.

3. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a booktop for said piano shaped to conform to the outline of the piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a book-top mounting wall extending from one side of the piano to the other and pivoted thereto, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said booktop mounting wall, the book when closed being as wide as the piano, the arrangement being such that the book-top may be folded down flat on top of the piano when not in use.

4. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a booktop for said piano shaped to conform to the outline of the piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a book-top mounting wall pivotally mounted on the piano, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said booktop mounting wall, and a pivotally mounted top support adapted to support the book-top in a raised position which facilitates reading the music in the book, the arrangement being such that the top support and book-top may be folded down flat on top of the piano when not in use.

5. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a metallophone extending across the inside of said case, a row of simulated piano keys with associated mechanism to strike the metallophone, a book mounted on and forming one of the exposed walls of said case, said book comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, the back cover of said book being pivotally secured on said piano case.

6. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a metallophone extending across the inside of said case. a row of simulated piano keys with associated mechanism to strike the metallophone, a book-top for said piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a booktop mounting wall pivotally mounted on the piano, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said book-top mounting Wall, and a support adapted to support the book-top in a raised position facilitating reading of the music in the book, the arrangement being such that the support and the book-top may be folded down fiat on top of the piano when not in use.

7. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a metallophone extending across the inside of said case, a row of simulated piano keys with associated mechanism to strike the metallophone, a book-top for said piano shaped to conform to the outline of the piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a book-top mounting wall extending from one side of the piano to the other and pivoted thereto, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said booktop mounting wall, the book when closed being as Wide as the piano, the arrangement being such that the book-top may be folded down flat on top of the piano when not in use.

8. A toy piano comprising a piano case, a metallophone extending across the inside of said case, a row of simulated piano keys with associated mechanism to strike the metallophone, a book-top for said piano shaped to conform to the outline of the piano case, said book-top comprising front and back covers with a plurality of pages of music bound therebetween, a book-top mounting wall pivotally mounted on the piano, the back cover of said book-top being secured to said book-top mounting wall, and a pivotally mounted top support adapted to support the book-top in a raised position which facilitates reading the music in the book, the arrangement being such that the top support and book-top may be folded down flat on top of the piano when not in use.

RAYMOND J. LOHR. 

